18] 
gor principle of order and fubor- 
i 
nation overwhelmed in its ruins 3 
_ that it was therefore neceflary to 
‘fatisfy fpeedily the claims of the 
peafantry, leit they fhould proceed 
ftill farther lengths, and defpairing 
of juflice in any other manner, af« 
fume to themfelves the entire means 
of attaining it; and that to give 
them the immediate enjoyment of 
thofe advantages which they fo 
much defired, was the fureft_ means 
of attaching them to the revolution. 
They faid they would not, nor 
ought not to diflemble, that France 
was at that moment in the laft con- 
vulfions of departing life ; thather ex- 
iftence was prolonged, and her hopes 
cherifhed, by nothing elfe but the 
attachment of the provinces to, and 
their confidence in the national af- 
fembly; and that nothing could 
prevent her impending diffolution, 
but the prompt eftablifhment of a 
jut and free conftitution. They 
both concluded, by propofing that 
all impofts fhould be equitably and 
equally laid on; that the feudal fer- 
vices fhould be redeemable at an 
equitable price; and that perfonal 
fervitude fhould be abolifhed, with- 
out purchafe; with fome other arti- 
cles, all tending to the eafe and re- 
lief of the peafantry. 
Of all the known nations in the 
univerfe, perhaps there is no one 
fo fufceptible of fudden impreffions, 
and fo liable to the moft impaffioned 
emotions, as the French are and ever 
have been. Whatever the objeés 
of purfuit may be, whether the moft 
infignificant trifles, or matters of the 
greateft importance, the ardour and 
_ enthufiafm of the moment feem in all 
cafes to be the fame. All defcrip- 
tion would therefore be defedtive, 
in attempting to convey any idea 
of the tran{ports which thefe {peeches 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1790. | 
excited both in the afflembly and in, 
the galleries. The very large pof- 
feffions and extenfive royalties of the 
duke d’Aiguillon, added furprif- 
ingly to the efteét, and fired every 
body with a wifh ta be able in fome. 
degree to emulate the megnanimi- 
ty of his conduct, The contagion 
fpread inftantaneoufly through the 
two orders of the nobles and clergy, 
and the contention was only which 
fhould be the firft to offer, and which. 
fhould make the greatett facrifices to 
the public welfare. The commons. 
feemed loft in admiration at this 
fudden and unexampled fit of pa- 
triotifm, and frequently burft into 
loud and involuntary acclamations 
of praife and gratitude for the be- 
nefits which were thus fo unexpeét- 
edly and generoufly conferred on 
the people. This was particularly 
the cafe when the bifhup of Char- 
tres, who was himfelf poffeffed of 
very extenfive forefts, propofed the 
abolition of the exclufive rights of 
the chafe ; which, from the extreme 
cruelty of the laws by which they 
were protected, as well as the mif- 
chiefs done by the ftags, boars, and 
other game to the farmers, had ever 
beens deemed a grievance of the 
firft magnitude, 
The commons loft no part of 
their temper or judgment in, the 
paroxyfms of admiration or ap- 
plaufe. ‘They coolly perceived all 
the advantages that were to be 
drawn from the prefent fervour, 
and determined not to mifs any of 
them, but to obtain every poffible 
conceffion while it lafted, well aware 
of the extraordinary change which 
a few hours cool confideration 
might produce in many. of thofe 
who now feemed the moft ardent in 
their enthufiafm. The defign was 
fo well conducted that it fucceeded 
perfectly: 
